China Food Regulatory Updates
In May 2024, the National Health Commission (NHC) of China issued 22 acceptance cases of “three new foods” (new food ingredients, new food additives, and new food-related products). The following table does not include new food-related products.
Type |
Status |
Number |
Name |
New food ingredients |
Cases newly accepted |
6 |
Lemon Myrtle |
Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) disodium salt |
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Camelina sativa seed oil |
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Erythrothioneine |
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Cis-15-Nervonic acid |
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Bacillus subtilis QK02 |
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New food additives |
Cases newly accepted |
12 |
Fructo-oligosaccharide |
Anisole |
|||
Hydroxycitronellal |
|||
Sodium cyclamate |
|||
Sodium N-cyclohexylsulfamate |
|||
3-Fucosyllactose |
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2’-Fucosyllactose |
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Glutamine transaminase |
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β-glucosidase |
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Lipase |
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Lacto-N-tetraose |
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Curdlan Gum |
|||
Cases open for public opinion |
4 |
D-psicose 3-epimerase |
|
2’-fucosyllactose |
|||
Lacto-N-neotetraose |
|||
Sodium ferrous citrate |
On May 10, 2024, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) issued an announcement soliciting public opinions on four new food additives, including one new food enzyme, two new food nutrition enhancers, and one food nutrition enhancer with an expanded scope. The deadline for submitting opinions is June 9, 2024. For detailed information, see the previous report here.
On May 11, 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) issued an announcement regarding the "Good Clinical Practice for Food for Special Medical Purpose (FSMP)," which will take effect from the date of issuance. It replaces the trial version issued by the former China Food and Drug Administration on October 13, 2016.
On June 3, 2024, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) published the list of non-compliant food products in April 2024. A total of 278 batches of imported food from 38 countries/regions were rejected. The majority of non-compliant imports originated from Ecuador, Japan, and Australia etc. Key reasons for rejections were discrepancies between cargo and certificates, excessive use of food additives or nutritional fortification, inadequate labeling, detection of animal epidemic diseases, and missing required documents.
International Food Regulatory Updates
| Europe
On May 3, 2024, the Official Journal of the EU published a correction to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2465 issued on August 17, 2023, supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 on egg marketing standards and repealing Regulation (EC) No 589/2008.
On May 13, 2024, the European Commission issued Regulation (EU) 2024/1325, approving vitamin B12 produced by Streptomyces cinnamoneus CGMCC 21299 as a feed additive for all animal species, under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.
On May 21, 2024, the EU issued Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/14011, which amends Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2104 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards marketing standards for olive oil2. This amendment aligns with the revisions established by the International Olive Council3 in November 2022.
| Australia and New Zealand
On May 24, 2024, the Australian Federal Register of Legislation published announcement F2024L00577, amending the standards for food additive use. Specifically, it expands the use of rosemary extract and sets usage conditions. This announcement takes effect from the date of publication.
Official link: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2024L00577/latest/text
| Asia
On May 31, 2024, Malaysia announced new timelines for variation applications of registered pharmaceutical products, natural product, and health supplement products, aiming to improve efficiency in both pre-marketing product assessment and post-approval changes. However, a pilot study will be conducted for one year before finalizing the new timelines. Therefore, starting from June 1, 2024, product registration holders are advised to follow the new timeline for submission.
Sources: Official regulatory authorities in respective countries/regions.